GTi . . . it's a three-letter badge and for nearly 30 years it has a captivated car enthusiasts everywhere. It stands for a compact package of fun driving and exhilarating performance.
Yet, for all the magic, it has been in a bit of a decline in recent years, certainly with the Volkswagen Golf which is seen by many as the one true carrier of the famous moniker.
But rejoice! GTi is back with the latest addition to the fifth generation Golf. It will go on Irish sale in early January but the really keen will be able to touch, feel, smell and maybe even have a drive as all Irish VW dealerships will have one car in stock before Christmas.
The object of the attention will be a 2-litre 200bhp turbocharged version with vital statistics like 0-62mph (100 km/h) in 7.2 seconds in six-speed manual form or 6.9 seconds with the very sophisticated DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox). Top speed is claimed at 145mph (233 km/h). By mid-2005 we should also see another 2-litre GTi, actually a TDi flying diesel colours with 160bhp.
We sampled the VW GTi revival last week at the Paul Ricard racing circuit in the south of France, owned by Formula One boss, Bernie Ecclestone. (Circuit facilities incidentally include a private airport and an hotel, predictably dubbed the Berni Inn). It turned out to be more challenging and more exciting driving than we imagined because of the volume and ferocity of rain spilling down. We and the GTi survived this near-amphibious experience.
It's hard not to be impressed with the precisely chosen gear ratios - with the free-revving engine, they mean smooth though invigorating delivery of power and none of the almost explosive acceleration of the original species. The engine is characterised by its responsiveness throughout the rev range, with the maximum 280Nm of torque available from just 1,800rpm.
On winding French country roads, we were able to get a better notion of the GTi's driving pleasure.
Unlike the previous four generations, the new model has an advanced multi-link rear suspension. The car showed agility and grip with a lot of direct steering feel from the electro/mechanical power steering. The whole suspension set-up is hard but surprisingly it doesn't impinge in the cabin too much: we even tried the roomy back seat.
Visually, the GTi stands out from its conservative siblings. As well as the retro look of the GTi badging, subtle red detailing has been added to the honeycomb radiator grille in honour of the 1970s original. It sits a full 15mm lower than the standard car. Other external distinctions are 17"-alloys and twin exhausts. Inside supportive bucket seats, a leather steering wheel and alloy pedals do the same.
We got addicted to one of the GTi's options, the DSG gearbox. Could it really be starting a revolution in automatic boxes? The gear changes are so unbelievably fast that even wildly enthusiastic manual drivers couldn't match. The changes were made with seamless precision, not always typical of conventional automatics.
VW says that this new Golf GTi reclaims the GTi badge as its own. That was certainly evident at the press test base, in subliminal ways. All press material had only the three letters with no mention of VW or Golf.
"There's only one GTi and it's back," explained marketing director Jorn Hinrich. "If we say it's VW or Golf, the implication is of other GTis around. We are picking up on the old original values of the first car."
The first car started out in June 1976 as a limited edition with a run of just 5,000. But the 1.6 litre 110bhp that was the original GTi started something and over 1.5 million were built, distributed in 148 countries.
Tom O'Connor, VW sales manager here, expects GTi sales of over 500 next year, about 10 per cent of total Golf sales for 2005. Prices haven't been finalised but around €35,000 for the six-speed manual version is likely.